October 2, 1881 year, the small group of men met in the basement of the Church of the Virgin Mary on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut.

On the initiative of the parish priest, 29-year-old Father Michael McGivney, these men formed a fraternal association, which later became the world's largest Catholic family fraternal organization. They were the strength of solidarity, a sense of security consensus and common dedication to the holy cause: they swore to defend their homeland, family and faith ...

He combined the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, who brought Christianity to the New World.

Achieved their goal, the March 29, 1882, she was legalized organization the Knights of Columbus. It was the first Knights of Columbus.

The Order was called "the strong right arm of the Church," and praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders for their support for the Church, a program of evangelization and Catholic education, community involvement and outreach.

The vision of Father McGivney also included insurance program to ensure the existence widows and orphans of deceased knights. Order's insurance program has expanded to better serve the growing organization. Year after year, the Knights win the highest quotation for the solvency of A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's.

The Order provides the highest quality services in the field of insurance, annuities and long-term programs for members and their families, together with many other benefits of fraternal mutual assistance.

The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the development of the organization as a whole.

Responsibilities of the Supreme Council include: business start-Order in new territories, appointing regional authorities, the identification and promotion of the principles and objectives of the organization, taking initiatives on the scale of the entire organization, rozpropagowywanie information about the mission of the Knights of Columbus in the world, as well as concern for the welfare of family members through insurance programs .

Most charitable activities performing members of local councils and subordinate.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal, mutual aid organization of men, which was established to provide financial aid to members and their families. Members and their families, helping each other in the event of illness, disability, and every need. Between members produces a bond intellectual and sociable through joint work in the field of charitable, educational, religious, social, support, neighbors in the event of war or catastrophe.

The history of the Order indicates the prophetic vision of Father McGivney, whose cause for beatification is being prepared by the Vatican. The vision of Father McGivney helped create an organization that has become the leading Catholic fraternal mutual aid organization in the world. The Knights of Columbus has grown from one council a few members to more than 12 000 rad and more than 1.8 million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, the Philippines, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan and Poland .

The Knights of Columbus began its activity in Poland in 2006. The Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus, at its meeting on 4-6 February 2011., Decided to make Poland's State Council. The first convention states where constituted State Council and the elected State Deputy, was held on 20-22 May 2011 in Czestochowa, and the ceremonial introduction of the office of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Cracow - Lagiewniki on 25 June 2011.

In Poland there are local Council, which run their own initiative. Superior Knights of Columbus in Poland is Deputy.